What does MIRV stand for in nuclear missiles?

• A. Missile Interdiction Reentry Vehicle
• B. Mutually Interconnected Reentry Vehicle
• C. Massive Independent Reentry Vehicle
• D. Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle

Answer: (D)

The idea tested is how MIRV describes a missile system. MIRV refers to a single ballistic missile that carries several warheads, each mounted on its own reentry vehicle and capable of being directed to separate targets after launch. This means one missile can hit multiple targets, and each warhead can be aimed independently, which makes defense harder and strike options more flexible.

The best answer captures the core of that concept: more than one reentry vehicle on one missile, with the ability to target independently. The full, widely used form is “Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles” (sometimes shortened to “Multiple Independently Reentry Vehicles”). The option given uses similar wording—Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle—so it conveys the essential idea of multiple reentry vehicles on a single missile. The other options don’t fit the terminology or the mechanism MIRV describes, as they introduce terms like interdiction, mutual interconnection, or use an incorrect modifier like “Massive.”